Peter Mandelson has resigned from the House of Lords after leaked emails revealed he shared confidential UK government communications with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The former business secretary under Gordon Brown sent briefings on government actions during the 2008 financial crisis, including a confidential document outlining potential £20bn in asset sales and early confirmation of a €500bn European bailout.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the cabinet he was appalled by the leaks and has handed a dossier to the police. He has also asked officials to draft legislation to strip Mandelson of his peerage “as quickly as possible”. A Downing Street spokesperson said it was “right” that Mandelson was quitting, adding: “As the prime minister said this morning, Peter Mandelson let his country down.”
The cabinet secretary is investigating the emails, which also include Mandelson claiming he was “trying hard” to change government policy on bankers’ bonuses and suggesting the boss of JPMorgan “mildly threaten” the chancellor over bonuses. Documents have been passed to the Metropolitan police, who will consider a wider investigation.
Documents released by the US Department of Justice also show that Epstein paid $75,000 into bank accounts of which Mandelson was believed to be a beneficiary, and sent £10,000 to Mandelson’s partner for an osteopathy course. Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the association a “betrayal on so many levels”.
